Freak wave pummels cruise ship

April 18, 2005 — 4.39pm

A freak wave about 21 metres high smashed into a cruise liner as the vessel was returning to New York from the Bahamas, slightly injuring four passengers and flooding 62 cabins, the ship's owners said today.

Norwegian Cruise Line, part of the Malaysian Genting Group's Star Cruises Ltd, said the wave shattered two windows on the Norwegian Dawn at daybreak yesterday off the Florida coast.

"The safety and integrity of the ship was in no way compromised by this incident," the world's third-largest cruise company said in a statement.

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The ship, carrying more than 2,200 passengers, was diverted to Charleston, South Carolina, for repairs and left early today for New York, the company said.

The New York Daily News said the wave smashed windows on the ninth and tenth floors of the luxury liner, which entered service in December 2002.

The vessel had weathered stormy seas on Friday night and entered calmer waters.

"The sea had actually calmed down when the wave seemed to come out of thin air at daybreak," company spokeswoman Susan Robison told the newspaper. "Our captain, who has 20 years on the job, said he never saw anything like it."

Company officials did not immediately return calls seeking additional comment.